[07-09-2022] Santa Clara County, CA – Woman Hospitalized Following Dog Attack Near Levi’s Stadium

One woman identified as Melissa S. was viciously attacked by a police K9 in Santa Clara on Saturday, July 9, 2022.

The incident occurred on Saturday at a soccer field near Levi’s stadium.

The seemingly harmless move quickly turned violent when a Santa Clara police dog, off its leash, rushed her.

The dog was not commanded to attack but did so for unknown reasons.
Silva was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in an ambulance with several puncture wounds to her left arm.

She was released on Sunday and may need surgery and physical therapy.

A Santa Clara police spokesman said the soccer field – a public city park – was not open to the public at the time, and the officer was doing off-leash training with his dog.

While conducting the off-leash training, a person and their dog unexpectedly entered the facility through the closed and latched gate.

The police K-9 immediately ran towards the person and their dog. The person picked up her dog and struck the police K-9 in the head, resulting in an unintentional bite to the person’s upper arm.

Silva said she was trying to spare her own dog from a mauling by swinging it in the air by its leash when the police dog turned on her.

She said it took around 45 seconds for the officer to pry its dog’s jaws off her arm as she bled profusely.

Dog Bite Injury Statistics

According to the CDC dog bite data, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States, with 800,000 of these bites necessitating medical attention. The United States had a population of approximately 328.2 million people in 2019. That means that a dog bites one out of every 73 people.

They can attack in a variety of ways, such as by knocking someone to the ground or snarling and biting them. Biting a person can result in a dog bite injury. Infection, disfigurement, disability, and even death can result from bites.

California had the highest dog-bite fatality in 2019, with nine people dead as a result of such incidents. Thirty-six dog attacks killed people, 15 of whom were children and 21 adults.
Most dog bite victims are children, accounting for half of all victims. Most attacks occur when a child is playing with a dog.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all children under the age of 12 have been bitten by a dog. More than half of dog bites on children occur in the head or neck area.
The California Civil Code, Section 3342, holds dog owners liable for injuries their pets cause as a result of a bite. As with any other personal injury case in California, you will need to demonstrate negligence if you were attacked by a dog but were not bitten.

People should exercise caution when petting other dogs to avoid being bitten by a dog. While some dogs can still attack even if they’re unprovoked, the best thing to do is remain calm and avoid hitting the dog, as this could make them even more aggressive.

Santa Clara County Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

Because of the risk of infection from disease or bacteria carried by the dog, those bitten by dogs should seek immediate medical attention. The majority of dogs in California are infected with illnesses and bacteria that require antibiotic treatment as soon as possible.

The cost of immediate medical attention and transportation to a medical facility via medical transport can be prohibitive for many people. In the event of a dog bite attack, however, it may be necessary.

Our Santa Clara County dog bite injury lawyers at Arash Law are prepared to aggressively seek compensation for victims. Our legal team can conduct research, locate the dog’s owner or responsible party, and file a civil lawsuit if the demand is not met. Dog owners in California are held accountable for the harm their dogs inflict on others based on the California Civil Code, Section 3342.

We can help you file a claim against the dog’s owner under California’s dog bite laws regardless of the severity of your injuries. You can reach us at any time at (888) 488-1391 for a free and confidential case evaluation with our experienced attorneys.